On behalf of the membership of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), I am writing to demand that the Minneapolis Police Officers who brutally arrested and killed George Floyd be charged and tried for his murder.

With a heavy heart, the whole world watched as George Floyd begged for his life. Mr. Floyd was killed at the hands of an officer with a dozen complaints against him as the other officers sat and watched. Tragedy has turned into rage. The officers must be arrested and held accountable for their actions.

We demand justice. We demand justice for George Floyd and his family. We demand justice for all persons of color that are subjected to police brutality on a daily basis. We demand justice for every person of color who lives in fear of losing his or her life at the hands of brutal, racist, oppressive, and intolerant police officers who believe they are above the law. We demand justice for those who are persecuted and oppressed based on the color of their skin.

We the ILWU are a union that has a rich history of fighting for racial and social justice. We cannot sit back and watch the same scene unfold time and again. We will not sit back and not fight for change.